Zombie Domination

Chapter 438: Chapter 438- Fascinating

"Then do it," Julian said coldly, his grip tightening around his sword. "Let’s see which is faster—my blade or your claws."

The mutant woman’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. "Very well, if that’s what you want."

The moment she moved, Fey reacted instantly. She stepped in front of Julian without hesitation while Zoe let out a savage growl beside her, her eyes glowing with feral hostility.

The mutant woman chuckled softly. "Your women are quite alert." Her gaze narrowed maliciously. "I wonder... what kind of expression would you make if I killed them?"

Julian’s eyes darkened with fury.

At that moment, Darwin, who had been silently observing him, suddenly froze as if a forgotten memory had resurfaced.

"Julian..." he muttered slowly. "I remember you now. You’re the one who defeated my subordinate, Leo... and the man who killed the Sky Whale." A twisted laugh escaped his mouth. "Hahaha... so the person I’ve been searching for came to me on his own. How foolish of me not to realize it sooner."

Julian stared at him without fear. "You were too slow to figure it out. That’s why you almost lost."

Darwin’s smile remained calm and unsettling. "I’m still strong enough to crush you." His eyes sharpened slightly. "Besides... it seems you don’t know what happened to Kevin."

Julian’s expression changed instantly. "You met him?"

"Indeed," Darwin replied casually. "We fought each other. That annoying old man, Glain, kept interfering with my plans, so I decided to interfere with his precious city, Meltdown." His grin widened. "Of course, Glain couldn’t accept that, so he sent Kevin after me."

Darwin laughed quietly as if recalling something amusing.

"And do you know what happened?" he continued. "Kevin was left dying. I even offered to recruit him out of kindness, but he refused." His eyes turned cold. "So I had no choice but to kill him."

Julian’s grip on his sword tightened violently.

"However..." Darwin added, narrowing his eyes slightly, "some unknown interference occurred before I could confirm the body. Kevin’s corpse suddenly disappeared." He glanced toward the mutant woman beside him as if he already knew the answer. "I’ve always wondered what caused that."

The mutant woman noticed his gaze immediately.

A faint smirk appeared on her face. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"So your guess was right," she said calmly. "Kevin is in my nest right now."

The moment those words left her mouth, the atmosphere froze.

Julian’s eyes widened slightly before a violent pressure exploded from his body. The ground beneath his feet cracked faintly as his grip on the sword tightened hard enough to make the metal tremble.

"You’re lying," Julian said, his voice low and dangerous.

The mutant woman merely smiled. "Do I look like someone joking?"

Zoe bared her fangs immediately, a deep growl rumbling from her throat like a wild beast ready to tear someone apart. Fey’s expression also hardened, though her eyes briefly flickered toward Julian with concern. She could feel the anger pouring out of him.

Darwin, meanwhile, laughed in amusement while crossing his arms. "Interesting. So the boy survived after all." His gaze shifted toward the mutant woman. "You kept that hidden from even me."

"Because it wasn’t your business," she replied coldly. "Besides, his body was useful."

Julian’s killing intent intensified instantly.

"What did you do to him?" he asked.

The mutant woman tilted her head slightly. "Relax. If I wanted him dead, he would already be a corpse." Her crimson eyes narrowed. "Though I can’t guarantee what condition he’ll be in when you find him."

Before Julian could move, Darwin suddenly stepped forward.

"You’re not going anywhere," Darwin said with a grin. "Did you really think I’d let the man who killed my subordinate walk away?"

A heavy wave of pressure burst from Darwin’s body, causing the air itself to shake. The surrounding mutants immediately backed away instinctively, fear visible on their faces.

Julian slowly raised his sword.

"I don’t have time for this," Julian muttered.

Darwin’s grin widened. "Good. Because neither do I."

In the next second, both of them vanished.

BOOM.

A deafening shockwave exploded across the battlefield as sword and claw collided at terrifying speed. The ground shattered beneath them, sending debris flying everywhere.

Fey immediately pulled Zoe back to avoid the impact while the mutant woman watched with interest, her long hair swaying violently from the pressure alone.

"Hahaha!" Darwin roared in excitement as his claws pushed against Julian’s blade. "Yes! This is what I wanted!"

Darwin’s transformed body moved with unnatural grace, Subject Zero’s pale flesh wrapped around Darwin’s consciousness, creating something faster, stronger, more vicious than either had been alone. His claws, black and jagged, slashed at Julian’s throat.

Julian ducked.

[Lightning].

Blue-white arcs erupted from his left side, pushing his speed beyond its normal limits. He spun, his broken sword aiming for Darwin’s ribs.

Darwin’s empty white eyes tracked the movement.

He laughed.

"Still fighting with a broken blade?"

His hand caught Julian’s wrist. Squeezed. Bone creaked.

Julian didn’t flinch. His right hand slammed into Darwin’s chest.

[Shadow Spike].

Darkness erupted from his palm, piercing through Darwin’s torso. Black ichor sprayed.

Darwin staggered back, looking down at the hole in his chest. The wound didn’t bleed normally. Instead, crimson light pulsed at its edges, slowly knitting the flesh back together.

"You’ll have to do better than that," Darwin said.

Julian’s jaw tightened.

Behind them, the mutant woman watched. Her red eyes followed every movement, every strike, every dodge. Her folded wings twitched. Her clawed fingers tapped against her thigh, impatient.

"Fascinating," she murmured.

Fey stood nearby, her body tensed, ready to intervene. Zoe was beside her, still in human form but her golden eyes locked on the mutant woman, not on Darwin.

"Why are you watching?" Zoe asked, her voice low. "You said you wanted to kill him."

The mutant woman’s lips curled.

"I do," she said. "But not yet. Let him exhaust himself first." Her red eyes flicked toward Zoe. "Or are you afraid I’ll succeed?"

Zoe’s growl rumbled in her chest.

Fey placed a hand on her arm. "Not now."

Dori, still clutching her pistol, stood behind them. Her hands were steady, but her eyes kept darting between Julian and the mutant woman. Emma was still unconscious, propped against a broken pillar, her breathing shallow but steady.

The battle continued.

Darwin lunged again, his claws extended. Julian met him halfway, his broken blade singing through the air.

CLANG.

The blade bit into Darwin’s shoulder. Darwin’s claws raked across Julian’s side.

Both staggered back. Both bled.

"Your skills are fading," Darwin observed, his empty eyes gleaming. "I can feel it. The lightning is weaker. The shadow is thinner."

Julian didn’t answer. He couldn’t. Darwin was right.

The mutant woman finally moved.

She stepped forward, her clawed feet clicking against the marble. Her wings spread slightly, casting a crimson-tinted shadow across the battlefield.

"Enough," she said.

Darwin turned to her, his smile returning. "Tired of watching?"

"I’m tired of waiting." Her red eyes fixed on Julian. "I told you. I intend to kill him myself."

Darwin laughed. "Then take your turn. I can wait."

He stepped back, crossing his arms, his empty white eyes gleaming with amusement.

The mutant woman walked toward Julian.

Fey stepped in front of him immediately. Zoe shifted into her beast form, her golden eyes blazing. Dori raised her pistol.

The mutant woman stopped.

"Move," she said quietly.

"No," Fey said.

The woman’s red eyes narrowed. Her aura intensified, not like Darwin’s cold hunger, but something older. More patient. More dangerous.

"You’re loyal," she said. "I respect that. But loyalty without strength is just suicide."

She raised her clawed hand.

Before she could strike, Julian’s voice cut through the tension.

"Stop."

Fey didn’t move. Zoe didn’t retreat.

Julian stepped past them, his broken blade still in his hand, his dark blue eyes fixed on the mutant woman.

"You want to kill me," he said. "Then do it. But leave them out of it."

The mutant woman tilted her head. "You’d die for them?"

"I’d kill for them," Julian corrected. "There’s a difference."